The marquee showdown Thursday in Monte Carlo between 2-time champion Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic lived up to the billing with the Austrian again taking down the former World No. 1 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3.

The 2-hour, 29-minute affair looked Thiem’s way early as he was the aggressor early taking a quick 3-0 lead and then held set points at 5-3. But Djokovic clawed back and took a tight breaker.

Thiem got the upper hand again in the second, and this time held his form. And carried it over into the third over the Djokovic who just couldn’t find the mark on his shots.

It was Thiem’s second straight win over Djokovic after his stunner at the French last year.

“Every win is important, especially against such a great player as Novak,” said Thiem. “It’s the quarterfinals now, so it’s only getting tougher… It was important for my self-confidence, to know I’m physically 100 per cent again. It was a great win. Of course it’s important, but tomorrow is a new day.”

Djokovic, who was playing his first event after re-uniting with former coach Marian Vadja, stressed patience.

Ideally I’d want to be playing the way I played for so many years,” said Djokovic. “But that comes with time. I understand that it’s quite hard to play match after match on a very high level if I didn’t have too many matches behind me, if I had an injury, if I had an absence from the Tour for six months. All these things we have to take in consideration.

“Obviously patience is required, trust in the process, believing in myself, in my game, people around me. I really believe that if I continue doing what I’m doing so far, believing in myself, I know eventually I’m going to get there. I’m going to get there.”

Next for Thiem is World No. 1 and King of Clay Rafael Nadal who blew out Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2.

“It was a good victory – straight sets against a difficult opponent,” said Nadal. “I think I played little bit better than yesterday. My serve worked well and my forehand was better than yesterday.

Though he’s behind 5-2 in their series, Thiem was the only player to beat Nadal on clay last year.

“It’s the ultimate challenge for everybody, to play against him,” said Thiem of playing Rafa. “For sure tomorrow, I have to raise my level again. I think I’m able to do that. If you do so, I’m going to have chances tomorrow. If not, I’m out. It’s pretty easy… Of course, I would have liked to have faced him later in the tournament. But the draw was a little bit unlucky for me, especially. Hopefully for him, as well, tomorrow.”

Marin Cilic advanced without taking the court when his opponent, the oft-injured Milos Raonic, withdrew due to a right knee issue.

“It was difficult yesterday, early in the match, I rotated on my knee in an uncomfortable position and felt pain,” Raonic said. “I finished the match with some swelling and I thought through treatment it would be better, but I had more pain today. After consultation with the doctors, I needed to get down to the bottom of the issue and I was at risk to cause further pain. I will know more in the next few days.”

Djokovic has now apparently regained his love of tennis, reunited with Vajda, put Pepe to the side, etc. Which is all good. However, he will never get to the top of men’s tennis until he regains his physical strength by eating heartily again. His skinny vegan body is great for yoga but not for tennis. He has lost a lot of pace on his groundstrokes and won’t get it back by eating salads and savouring soups. He needs to gain 5 to 10 kg very soon, otherwise he might as well pack it in.

Thanks Squirrel i hope i get to see it before going to work, Thiem played really well against Novak so i hope Rafas ready, and to be honest i think Novak getting that first set was more down to Thiem choking when serving for the set ….

Really? Hmmm but I hope Novak is getting the confidence back, do you think he is on his way to his former champion self?
I hope you get to see it too! You start your work quite late I see, you work in shift? Good luck!

Squirrel i do think Novak is on his way back, and i think he will be fine, i dont see him dominating the way he did before, but i still think he will win titles, i just dont think he has that aura of invincibility he had before, other players dont feel as intimidated, but thats just me, but we will see ….

As for Rafa i start work at 3 this afternoon, so i hope i get to see some of his match before i have to leave, hope its on soon lol ….

Third straight match Nadal opens breaking opponent, 2-0 already. Players are not able to even start leveled. On clay his break game is aqesome, he kees his level on serve game all year but his return game makes the difference.

What I’ve been saying about Dom here is showing, too. You cannot be serious being top 5, top 3 with just ONE kind of serve. Thiem knows nothing other than kicking it. No top spin, not slice. That’s it. Once you find the groove on the return, it’s over. 6-0

Of course, he’s more confident on clay. he’ll fight. But I don’t see how.

Wow, got out of subway and Nadal up 8-0 amd serve. Thiem is not fighting for the set or match anymore, he just wants to winna game now. He jas 2 more chances to wins a game on his serve, or as he was broken 4 times already maybe breaks Nadal😂

“With Rafa soon to be 32, could this be the last big clay season for the legend? I think so. I think this is it. Knees, hips, wrists, ect. This could very well be Nadal last Monte Carlo title. That’s just my feeling.”

I was shocked! haha. but it’s his opinion of course, I respect that but I was telling myself that would be so wrong, Nadal would top clay for at least three more years in my mind. What do you think?

It’s obvious that Nadal will play a reduced schedule from now on. It’s obvious that this schedule will get around Roland Garros. It’s obvious that Nadal get his injuries mainly on hard courts, when he has tu ron and work overload.

See a pattern here? Nadal will be favourite on RG until he says, no va más.

He should reduce his schedule and focus on clay, this is where he’ll continue building his legacy. Just like Roger, this is what makes most sense. For him to avoid hard and for Roger to avoid clay. Sometimes, age is not just a number..

chofer, Carillo did not comment about Thiem’s serve. She was basically saying Theim has not improved or added to his game over the years.

Djokovic is still the only one who can challenge Nadal on clay. Unfortunately, I don’t think he has the stamina to do it this year.

Somebody very very good playing very very well and very very focused for a very very long time may be able to beat Nadal when Nadal is playing very very poorly. And what is the chance of that coming all together at the French?

When he lost to Novak in 2016 i thought that was it regarding Rafas CC dominance, he pulled out through injury the year before, it took him 3 years to win the FO again, and the CC season has just started theres along way to go yet, he hasnt even won this one as yet, will he time will tell, but Rafa has to beat Grigor then whomever in the final, so im not counting any chickens that is for sure ?

I think the only thing prevent total Nadal dominance on clay this year is maybe an ocasional off duy due to age. One of those incosnistant days, and even so, his B clay game will need a few possible players to be on their A level (Thiem, Zevrev, Djoko, Delpo and Kei). Only include Thiem vbecuase he got 2 wins and he cna play better than today without the bunch of DF. The 2 hander BH are the only ones with real a shot at Nadal. Dimi may play tough but not win.

Verdasco and Fognini are too old now to be coutned, even with multiple wins over him.

Whoa! Man I missed the ash whipping of epic proportions huh?
I am sure every Rafa fan is in the clouds right now, who wouldn’t be?

That said, Thiem, with his extreme-gripped OHBH was a dead meat even before he took that clay court against Rafa. With that grip you can neighter hit high bouncing shots nor the low slices. And Rafa’s balls never stay lower than his shoulder.

And oh that FH stroke that takes more time to prepare than the time Rafa takes to prepare for his serve, that was never going to bend any hair on Nadal, was it?

Squirrel!,…Resentful?Urgh!..I WILL KICK SEAN’S ASS IF HE WERE NEXT TO ME THAT DAY BRO!!…U would feel the same thing if the title changed to[err..this is an example okay?]..”RIP Roger Federer 1981-2013″…

Sorry AM, I did not see your question! Vote for what? Oh I understand, GE14 of course… No I can’t vote because I forgot to register..I know, a travesty..are you??? PKR or BN? hehehe, feel free to ignore that very inappropriate and offensive question! ;)

Thanks Squirrel!..Yeah!True too that we need a LOT OF LUCK!..Everything is a mess!!..We’re dying here Squirrel…I think i have to immigrate to Belgium too…Hey!no wonder u happily live there now & don’t want to come home!…U traitor!..hahaha…

Ok Gasquet, I like him and he is leading 4-1 and serve vs Zverev, but the last thing we need is a Nadal x Gasquet final. He can barelly win sets on HC let alone clay. I was hoping for him to lose just to guarantee he will not play Nadal.

Nadal x Kei will be a much more entertaining match if Kei is in a high level.

The Kei vs Marin has to rank as one of the phoniest competitions in ATP history. Very maddening when neither on want to win and both are fending of real or imaginary injuries the whole 3 boring sets. Hated it. That’s my rant for the day.

Epic and awesome battle between Zverev and Gasquet! Best match of the tournament. The crowd firmly behind the french Monsieur, who performed brilliantly as I have seen him in a long time and Sascha fight off crowd and barely scraping by in the end. Loved it!

Hoping Kei gets clocked by Sascha tomorrow and if he doesn’t, he should be fined for today’s performance. Kei gets no kudos from me. He could have and should have made it past Marin in 2 sets, period.

If that’s the case, Van Persie and we get a Nishikori vs Rafa final. Yuck! Kei was shaking out his wrist like it was bothering him and served like shit. Marin was fussing about his leg/knee. Didnt want to see either one win LOL

Jalep lol no matter my dear, we are in different time zones, and like Markus i also liked your rant, as for Rafa he does look good, and i suppose hes the safe bet, but well you never know life as they say ifs full of surprises lol ….